Refrigerating apparatus



J. C. SMITH Oct. 4, 1932.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ljvjc L by 11d f'n '77 mm% k ATTORNE s 1932. J. c. SMITH 1,880,509

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I J6me faa/"w/f/m 7% BY 7. W ATTORNEY5 Oct. 4, 1932. C sM H 1,889,509

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed D60. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jue (op/m1 5 177/777 Oct. 4, 1932. .1. c. SMITH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24. 1928 S Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jase [on/0a 5/27/77? ATTORNE 5 Patented a. 4, 192,2

JESSE 0. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BEFBIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed December 2a, 1928. Serial No. 328,084.

This invention relates to refrigerating machines or apparatus.

Refrigerating apparatus of the absorptlon type obtains its cooling effect by the rapid expansion of condensed ammonia gas or anhydrous ammonia. As the expansion takes place, heat is absorbed by the gas, thereby cooling the surrounding media from wh1ch the heat is taken.

Ihe usual cycle of operation of devices of this character includes heating a solution of ammonia and water to expel the ammonia gas, cooling the gas under pressure to condense it to a liquid form, rapidly expanding the anhydrous liquid under reduced pressure and absorbing in water or weak liquor the gas formed by the rapid expansion.

Most of the difliculties experienced in re frigerating apparatus of the type described l or in refrigeration by the ammonia process have been due to the use of mechanical moving parts, such as pumps, and to leaking joints and stuffing boxes. Moreover, such refrigerating apparatus has required the use of 3:. an electric motor, steam pump or other driving means to operate the moving parts and to maintain the circulation through the systern.

One of the objects of this invention is to so simplify the process of refrigeration, to utilize a minimum number of parts, and to eliminate the use of mechanical moving parts and driving motors.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described, so constructed and arranged that the cycle of operation will be automatically carried out and will be performed by structure dependtions in the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effective valve control mechanism for a machine of the character specified, so constructed and arranged that it will be automatically operated to periodically reing for its operation upon the pressure conditurn strong liquor to the generator to maintain the continuous operation of the cycle.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation illustrating the absorber, reservoir and valve mechanism controlling the communication therebe-- tween, the valve being shown as open;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve closed;

. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, also showing the valve closed but in a difierent position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation talaen substantially on line 77 of Fig. 2; an

Fig. 8 is a'transverse sectional elevation taken through the valve.

The invention briefly described consists of refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, including a boiler or generator, a condenser, an expansion coil, an absorber, and a reservoir adapted to receive strong liquor from the absorber and to return the liquor to the generator.

The invention more particularly relates to the valve mechanism for controlling the pas sage of the liquor from the absorber to the reservoir and the passage of the ammonia gas through the reservoir chamber into the absorber and to the cycle of operation of the valve. The valve mechanism is constructed to be entirely automatic in operation and is so constructed and arranged that the valve will be automatically opened when the pressure in the absorber is equal to the pressure in the reservoir.

A charge of the liquor from the absorber into the reservoir causes the level in the absorber to reach a predetermined point. Thereupon, the valve will be closed.

The apparatus is furthermore so arranged that weak liquor will be discharged into the absorber and the gas that has been conducted to the absorber during the liquor discharge therefrom will be quickly absorbed by the weak liquor. The weak li uor feed into the absorber starts shortly a er the valve is closed, due tothe reduced pressure in the absorber caused by the cool walls thereof. As soon as the weak liquor flow in the form of a spray is started, the absorber pressure is further reduced due to the absorption of gas by the liquor. Furthermore, ammonia gas under certain conditions will be discharged directly into the absorber for absorption by the weak liquor.

Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically, re-

frigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, constructed in accordance with the invention. There is shown a boiler or generator B having a hot plate therein upon which the strong liquor drops and which may be heated by a gas flameF. The volatilized ammonia gas passes through a separator S and upwardly through a conduit 10 to a second separator S', which is adapted to extract any moisture from the gas. The moisture will flow back through the conduit by gravity and the unvolatilized ammonia liquid and moisture collect in the lower end of a casing Y surrounding the separator S and are conducted downwardly through a pipe Z to a weak liquor conduit 20.

From the separator S the gas passes through the conduit 10 to a condenserC, and thence through an expansion valve D and expansion coil E. The liquidammoniawhich passes from the condenser C through the ex pansion valve and coil will evaporate in the usual manner, thus being changed to gas, and the gasification of the liquid ammonia will take heat from the atmosphere surrounding the coil E, thus cooling the coil to a low temperature.

From the expansion coil E the gas passes to a valve casing G in which is housed a check valve. The check valve casing has two compartments, 21 and 22, separated by a partition 23. The partition 23 has an opening 24 and a sleeve 25 extends downwardly from the partition and has an internal diameter corresponding to the diameter of the opening 23. The sleeve has a plurality of radial openings 26 disposed below and adjacent to the partition 23.

A valve 30 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 25 and has a head 31 at the lower end thereof adapted to abut against the lower end of the sleeve. The valve 30 is supported by a spring 33 which is secured at its upper end to a disk 34 which in turn is supported by a compression spring 35. A thumb screw 36 bears on the top of the disk 34 and regulates the compression of the spring 35. .The compression of the spring is regulated in accordance with the pressure of the gas in the system, and is so regulated that the valve 30 will not be opened unless the pressure in the chamber 22 is lower than the pressure in the chamber 21. When this conditions prevails the valve 31 will be forced downwardly in the sleeve 25 and will uncover the radial openings or ports 26 and permit the passage of the gas from the chamber 21 through the chamber 22 and into a conduit 38 connected to the chamber or compartment 22.

From the conduit 38 the ammonia gas passes through a conduit 42 in a manner hereinafter described into an absorber A, which is mounted above a reservoir R, the absorber and reservoir both being secured to a block H constructed in a manner hereinafter set forth.

The conduit 20 communicates with the lower end of the boiler B and conducts weak liquor from the boiler through a cooling coil 40 to a needle valve casing 42a mounted on the upper end of the absorber A. A needle valve 43 is mounted in the casing and controls the passage of the liquor from the casing into the absorber.

A conduit 45 leads from the casing Y surrounding the separator to the reservoir R, thereby maintaining the same pressure in the reservoir as the pressure in the casing Y.

A discharge conduit 48 is connected to the absorber adjacent to but not at the lower end thereof. The conduit 48 discharges through a needle valve casing 49 into a conduit 50 which leads to the boiler B. A needle valve 51 controls the flow of the strong liquor from the absorber to the generator or boiler B.

Valve mechanism The block H has annular grooves in the top and bottom thereof, in which are positioned packing rings 50 and 51. The absorber has a laterally extending flange 53 and a downwardly extending annular flange 54, these flanges being positioned at the lower end of the absorber.

The reservoir casing has a laterally extending flange 55 at its upper end and an upwardly extending annular flange 56. The flanges 54 and 56 are positioned in the annular grooves in the upper and lower surfaces of the block H, and engage the packing rings 50 and 51. The absorber and reservoir casings are bolted to the block H by means of bolts 58 \vhiehare secured through the flanges 53 and 55 and through the block and firmly secure the reservoir and absorber to the block.

The conduit 42 above described extends outwardly from the block between the flanges 53 and 55 and at its inner end communicates with an angular conduit formed in the block. The block H has an upwardly extending threaded central portion 61 on which is threaded sleeve 62 extending downwardly from a plate 03. A conduit 64, angular in formation, is formed in the downwardly extending portion of the plate and communicates with the conduit 60 and conducts the gas from the conduit 60 into the absorber A.

The block H has a central opening formed therein and an annular flange 71 extending into the opening 70. A'bushing 73 is positioned in the opening 70 and has a flange 74 seating on the flange 71. A packing ring 75 is positioned above the flange 74 and a washer 76 is interposed between the packing ring and the under surface of the plate 63.

The bushing 73 has a lateral opening 80 therethrough and a plug 81 is threaded into the opening and has a conduit 82 communieatfng therewith- The bushing has also another lateral opening 85 in which is threaded a plug 86 having a conduit 87 communicating with the opening in the bushing. A downwardly extending conduit 88 is secured to the plug 86 and communicates with the conduit 85 therein. The lower end of the conduit 88 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the reservoir R.

A valve V is slidably mounted in the bush ing 73. The valve V has a solid lower end portion 90 provided with a plurality of parallel annular grooves 91 which form a labyrinth packing and coact with the inner surface of the bushing to prevent leakage through the bushing. The annular grooves are filled with liquor and thus form a liquid packing. In order to insure the access of the liquor to the annular grooves disposed within the bushing, a. longitudinal, upwardly extending passage 93 is formed in the lower portion 90 of the valve stem. This passage extends upwardly from the bottom of the stem and also through a weight 92 secured to the lower end of the valve stem. The passage also has a laterally extending portion 95 at its upper end.

The portion of the valve stem of the valve V above the lower solid portion 90 thereof has a longitudinally extending opening 98 therein which extends upwardly from a lateral opening 99 through to the upper end of the valve.

The portion of the valve stem disposed w thin the bushing 7 3 is fluted, as shown in Fig. 8, or has longitudinally extending grooves in the outer surface thereof. These grooves at their lower ends are adapted to communicate with the conduit 85 through the plug 86 and the grooves are of suflicient length to establish communication with the absorber at their upper ends.

i In the form of the invention illustrated, the

central opening 112 through which the valve;

stem extends.

A weight J is slidably mounted on the posts and has a central opening 115 therein and an inwardly extending flange 116 at the upper end of the opening 115. The opening 115 is of sufiicient size to receive the enlarged portion of the valve stem which, under conditions hereinafter set forth, extends into the opening to a Sl1fl'lClC11textent for the shoulder 112 to engage the flange 116 on the weight.

A pluraiity of levers L are pivoted in lugs 120 secured to or carried by the upper surface of the plate 63. The levers L have secured to their inner ends and extending laterally therefrom, lugs or rollers 121 adapted to engage beneath the shoulder 101 formed on the enlarged portion of-the valveV. The levers also have secured to and extending laterally from their outer ends, rollers 122'which are positioned beneath and are adapted to engage downwardly extending lugs 125 secured to the weight J.

The weight J has secured to and extending upwardly therefrom, lugs to which are pivoted levers K. Each lever has a stud 131 extending laterally therefrom and adapted to engage the lug 130 to limit the pivotal movement in one direction. Each lever also has an inwardly extending projection or lug 132 adapted to projectover the central portion of spider 111 and support the weight on the spider.

Each of the levers K has an upwardly extending portion 135 on which is mounted a roller 136. A spring 137 is positioned beneath each lever K and the weight J and normally tends to retain the lever in the position shown in 2, in which the stud 131 engagesthe Tug 130 carried by the weight. 1

A cup P is positioned in the absorber A above the levers K and has a central opening 140 therethrough, through which thevalve stem extends.

Any tendency of the. valve to rotate is prevented in the following manner: A lug 142 is secured to and extends laterally from the weight 92 and is positioned in a loop 143 secured at its upper end as shown at 144, to

. screws 146 to the lower end of the bushing 73.

The downward movement of the valve is lim-' ited by a stop'strip or member 147 secured to the upper surface of plate 63 and project: ing into the path of movement of the shoulder 101 on the valve.

Cooling means, such as a water. jacket 150, is provided for the absorber, but it should be understood that the cooling of the absorber and the cooling of'the condensers can be obtained either by a water jacket or these parts can be air cooled.

(lg ole of operation of apparatus In Fig. 2 the valve V is open and estab- "lishes communication between the reservoir and absorber. The strong liquor is being delivered by gravity through the grooves or flutes in the valve stem and through the opening 85 in the bushing and conduits 87 and 88, into the reservoir. Gas is passing upwardly through the valve stem from the reservoir to the absorber and passes through the conduit 82 and opening 83 in the bushing into the conduit 99 and through the longitudinal opening in the valve stem. Thus the strong liquor is emptying from the absorber into the reservoir.

The absorber will continue to discharge the liquor into the reservoir until the cup P is uncovered to such an extent that the weight of the liquor in the cup and the weight of the cup are sufiicient to tilt the levers K, thus releasing the weight J. As the weight J falls by gravity, the lugs125 will cause the lovers L to tilt on their pivots and the lugs 121 at the inner ends of the levers will, through their engagement with the shoulders 101 on the valve stem, cause the valve to be raised, closing the gas inlet to the hollow valve stem and the liquor outlet from the flutes or grooves in the valve stem. The valve, when raised by the levers in the manner just described, will assume the position shown in Fig. 3.

Vhen the communication between the absorber and reservoir is thus closed, the cooling effect in the absorber, due to the water jacket or to air cooling if an air cooling system is used, will cause a slight reduction of pressure in the absorber. The weak liquor will then again start to flow in the absorber through the pipe 20 and needle valve casing.

The pressure in the reservoir being greater than the pressure in the absorber, due to the reduction of pressure in the absorber above mentioned, the valve V will be forced upwardly by the reservoir pressure to the position shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, since the pressure in the absorber is lower than the pressure. in the opposite side of the check valve G, the check valve will be opened and the gas from the conduit 35 will enter the absorber through the conduit 42. This gas will be absorbed by the weak liquor, thus effecting a further reduction in pressure.

As the valve V is forced upwardly by the greater pressure in the reservoir, the weight J will also be forced upwardly, and as the cup P rests on the leversK, the levers will be tilted downwardly at their outer ends to a slight extent suflicient to clear the central portion of the spider-111. As the cup is submerged, the levers will assume the position shown in Fig. 4. 4

The parts of the apparatus will be retained in the'positions shown in Fig. 4 until the absorber A is filled with liquor, whereupon the pressure will immediately be built up in the absorber to equal the pressure in the reservoir. When this takes place the valve V will drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the absorber will again discharge liquor into the reservoir. The discharge will continue until the liquor level in the absorber has been reduced to such an extent that the weight of the cup P, plus the weight of the liquor in the cup, will tilt the levers K and release the weight J, whereupon the valve will be again raised to the.

closed position shown in Fi 3.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation of the valve and the filling and emptying of the absorber and reservoir are entirely automatic, the operation of the valve being controlled by the differences in pressure between the absorber and reservoir. It should also be noted that the reservoir is never entirely emptied and the lower end of the conduit 88 is never uncovered since the discharge outlet or conduit 48 from the reservoir to the boiler is located slightly above the bottom of the reservoir. Furthermore, the check valve G is open only when the pressure in the reservoir is less than the pressure in the rest of the system and, therefore, there is no possibility of the liquor from the reservoir backing up thrlough the check valve into the expansion co1 Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In refrigerating apparatus, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, and a gravity opened valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir, said valve being constructed and arranged to open when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressurein the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir, said valve being constructed and arranged to open when the force of gravity acting on the valve and the pressure 1n the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir, and means for closing the valve when the liquor in the absorber has been lowered'to' a predetermined level.

3. In refrigerating apparatus, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, and a slidably mounted gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir, said valve being constructed and arranged to open when the force of gravity acting on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir.

4.. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir and adapted to open by gravity when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir, and means in the absorber for closing the valve when the liquor in the absorber has been discharged to a predetermined level.

5. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to recelve liquor from the ab sorber, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir and adapted to open by gravity when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir, means for closing the valve, means for holding said closing means in inoperative position, and means for releasing said holding means when the level of the liquor in the absorber has reached a predetermined point.

6. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the ab sorber, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir and adapted to open by gravity when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir, a weight, means actuated by the weight to close the valve, means for supporting said weight in inoperative position, and means for releasing said supporting means when the level of the liquor in the absorber has been lowered to a predetermined extent.

7. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, a slidably mounted, gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between voir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber and to return the liquor to a generator, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir and adapted to'open by gravity when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in the reservoir, means for closing the valve, means for holding said closing means in inoperative position, and means for releasing said holding means when the level of the liquor in the absorber has reached a predetermined point, said last named means including a cup disposed in the absorbed and open at the top.

9. In refrigerating apparatus of the 'ammonia absorption type, a block, an absorber secured to and disposed above theublock, a reservoir secured to and disposed below said block, an opening through said block, a valve extending through the block and into said I absorber and reservoir, said valve being adapted to open or close communication between said absorber and said reservoir, said valve being adapted to drop by gravity to open position, and means controlled by the the absorber for closing in said opening adapted to open and close the communication with said conduit, said valve having'a passage extending into and upwardly therethrough into said absorber, the valve being movable longitudinally to open and close communication between saidabsorber and said reservoir.

11. In refrigerating apparatus of the character described, an absorber, a reservoir, a partition therebetween, and a valve carried by said partition, said valve having conduits on its outer surface for conducting liquor from the absorber to the reservoir and having a passage longitudinally therethrough for conducting gas from the reservoir to the absorber.

12. In refrigerating apparatus of the character described, an absorber, a reservoir, a

partition therebetween, and a valve carried by said'partition, said valve having conduits on its outer surface for conducting liquor from the absorber to the reservoir and having a passage longitudinally therethrough for conducting gas from the reservoir to the upper cnd of the absorber.

13. In refrigerating apparatus of the charact-er described, an absorber, a reservoir, a partition t-herebetween, agenerator, a conduit for conducting strong liquor from the reservoir to the generator, a valve controlled passage from the absorber to the reservoir, and a conduit communicating with said passage and having its discharge end disposed at a level below the level of the reservoir end of the liquor conduit connecting the reservoir and generator.

14. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, a generator, an absorber, means for conducting liquor to the absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber and to return the liquor to the generator, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir and adapted to open by gravity when the force of gravity on the valve and the pressure in the absorber over: come the pressure in the reservoir, means in the absorber for closing the valve when the liquor in the absorber has been discharged to a predetermined level, a gas conduit connecting the generator and reservoir whereby the gas pressure in the generator and reservoir will be equal, and means for reducing the pressurein the absorber to a pressure below the reservoir pressure whereby the difference in pressures will move the valve to further closed position after the valve has been closed.

15. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, means for conducting liquor to the absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, a gravity actuated valve controlling the communication between the absorber and reservoir, and means operative to open said valve when the absorber is substantially full of liquor and the force of gravity acting on the valve and the pressure in the absorber overcome the pressure in said reservoir.

16. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, and means for conducting liquor to the reservoir from the absorber including a discharge pipe having its outlet end in said reservoir disposed at all times below the level of the liquor'in the reservoir.

17. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, means for conducting liquor to the reservoir from the absorber including a discharge pipe, and means for insuring the disposal of the outlet end of the discharge pipe in said reservoir below the level of the liquor in the reservoir.

18. In refrigerating apparatus of the ammonia absorption type, an absorber, a reservoir adapted to receive liquor from the absorber, and means for conducting liquor to the reservoir from the absorber and fordischarging said liquor into the reservoir below the level of the liquor therein.

' JESSE C. SMITH. 

